Crowdfunding 

A return to alternative funding streams

Crowdfunding is another valuable way of financing your studio or project, whether for tabletop or digital. In 2024, 70% of Games backers came from cross-category backers who also pledged to projects in Design & Technology, Comics, and Publishing. With increased caution from more traditional routes such as VCs, angels and  publishers; crowdfunding allows creators to take their project to market, and reach new audiences, with minimal initial investment.

 

Tabletop

 

Tabletop games have raised 20% of the total 8.9 billion funded on Kickstarter since the platform's launch in 2009, and make up the biggest subcategory in Games, with 83% of all Games pledges going to tabletop projects in 2024.

 

Kickstarter reports that in 2024:

• 6,646 tabletop games projects launched on the platform

• 5,314 were successfully funded, at a

• 80% success rate - the highest in their 15-year history - with

• $220M pledged to successful tabletop game campaigns

​

Digital games

​

• $26M was pledged to 441 successful video game campaigns in 2024, a 28% increase from the year before.

• 65% of projects in the overall games category - which includes video games - met their funding goal in 2023, beating the site wide average of 42%

• Bloomberg reports that more video game developers are turning back to crowdfunding in light of economic downturn and funding instability in the industry

​

Marketing

​

Aside from a revenue stream, crowdfunding platforms can operate as an invaluable community and audience builder. Even if you have capital for production, it's worth considering a Kickstarter for a smaller amount to build excitement and offer early supporters exclusive rewards